Letter From Our State Director Carlos Fernández
The decade for action is no longer approaching—it’s here. Our changing climate continues to affect our lives, from record drought in the Colorado River Basin to longer, more intense wildfires. Yet, I am hopeful that there is more progress and momentum toward climate action than ever before.
This year, we saw the passage of the historic Inflation Reduction Act, dedicating billions of dollars across the U.S. to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. In Colorado, our legislature passed 17 bills that will reduce emissions while helping our economy thrive.
At the root of all this progress is the underlying truth that to address these threats, we need support from people—from all backgrounds and all parts of Colorado—to succeed. In this Year in Review, you will see how we are working across the state and across boundaries to achieve lasting, tangible results for Colorado and beyond.
While what we do is critical, how we approach our work and who we work with is just as important to making the difference we need.
We are evolving our approach to conservation to better reflect the perspectives and needs of everyone in our state. Part of this is acknowledging our history. While the conservation movement has sought to protect our planet, we have not always created systems that benefit all people. Across the U.S. and in Colorado, communities of color are more likely to suffer health impacts from air pollution, hazardous waste or water pollution in their neighborhoods. As we experience more extreme weather due to climate change, these same communities will be disproportionately affected.
We have a critical opportunity to do things differently and make a positive impact for both nature and people. I’m proud that at TNC in Colorado we have committed to a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan that involves all our staff and incorporates strategic changes to how we do our work.
I am grateful to you for supporting us as we continue to do the critical work of protecting the future for Colorado’s lands, waters and people. You are an important partner in helping us speak up for nature and meet the urgency of the moment. We can’t do it without you.
Colorado Successes
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Water
The Colorado River Basin is becoming permanently hotter and drier due to climate change. But that doesn’t mean there’s no hope—there are many potential tools we can use to manage water in the basin. Learn how we are working together to find solutions for the basin.
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35 Years of Conservation in the Laramie Foothills
It started with a small, yellow flower found almost nowhere else on Earth. TNC's protection of Phantom Canyon in 1987 led to over 140,000 acres of conserved landscape in the Laramie Foothills, vital for wildlife movement. Discover the history of conservation in the Laramie Foothills.
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Climate
This year, climate change was once again all around us, in the form of wildfires, drought, floods, high-temperature records and extreme weather events. Learn how we are advancing Colorado climate policies and renewable energy.
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Cities
Our future in Colorado and around the world will be shaped by the ways we adapt and harness the potential of cities to address the dual challenges of climate change and a biodiversity crisis. Discover how we are balancing the needs of nature and people in the Denver Metro area.
